Summit Offers Subsidized Uber Rides to Station for 100 Commuters

Officials say pilot program is first of its kind in the country and is expected to free up space in city garages without building new ones

Summit, one of New Jersey’s many commuter suburbs, started a pilot program Monday to encourage those who normally park in municipal garages to use Uber to get to and from the train station.

The first 100 people in the program are getting the Uber ride at no cost. Officials say they have already paid $4 per day for their parking permits, and Summit is subsidizing the rest of the $7 fee, expecting to get it back with new payments for the parking spaces freed up by the Uber users.

Mayor Nora Radest believes the program is the first of its kind in the country. Council President Mike McTernan said the six-month trial is expected to free up parking without the city building new garages and to encourage people from elsewhere to drive into Summit to shop.